Role of FNAC in the diagnosis of salivary gland swellings.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and efficacy of Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in various salivary gland swellings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was performed at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (KMCTH) from January 2004- December 2006.During this period a total of 978 FNAC's were done out of which 40 FNAC's were on salivary gland swellings. Correlation was done between cytological smear slides and biopsy slides. RESULTS: In this series of FNAC, 16 cases (40%) were benign neoplasms, 5 cases (12.5%) malignant neoplasms, non-neoplastic cysts 3 cases (7.5%) and inflammatory lesions 16 cases (40%).Histopathology was available in 24 cases out of which 22 cases correlated with cytology. There were no false positive reports but false negative result was seen in 4 cases. Sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 100% respectively. CONCLUSION: FNAC is useful in the diagnosis of salivary gland swellings especially in benign conditions with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 100%.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of soft tissue tumours (STT).

OBJECTIVES: The cytological findings of 50 ST Ts were evaluated aiming to determine the role of FNA in diagnosis of STTs METHODS: Fifty patients with soft tissue tumours underwent FNA in the preoperative investigation during a one year period. The smears were stained with Papanicolaou and May-Graunvald Giemsa stains. RESULTS: Forty-four cases were reported as benign, whereas 2 were malignant. Four cases revealed insufficient material. The malignant STTs were small round cell tumour and malignant spindle cell tumour. Cytological and histological correlation could be achieved in 40 cases. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 25% and 100% respectively with overall accuracy of 80%. CONCLUSION: A reliable diagnosis of STTs can be made with FNA when supported by other clinical and other diagnostic data.

Diagnosis of multiple myeloma by demonstration of M protein in bone marrow aspirate by agar gel electrophoresis: a case report.

A number of laboratory tests are used to confirm the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, including M protein in the serum. Since M protein in the serum originate from tumour cells in the bone marrow before circulating in the serum, demonstration of M protein in bone marrow aspirate can be added to the batteries of diagnostic parameters.

Platelet aggregometric study on whole blood of patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Platelet aggregation is an important in vitro test to assess platelet aggregation response in IHD. The present prospective case control study was undertaken to evaluate the platelet aggregation response in IHD and the effects of aspirin therapy on it. Platelet aggregation was conducted on whole blood by the Chrono- Log whole blood Aggrometer model 540-VS. Various agonists used for platelet aggregation were collagen, ADP, Epinephrine and Thrombin. High platelet aggregation was observed in-patients of IHD as compared to controls by few or all of the reagents used. Platelet aggregation was high in both MI and angina as compared to control cases. However, cases of MI showed higher response than those of angina. Aspirin intake was associated with a decrease in platelet aggregation in patients of IHD. The platelet aggregation response was higher in PRP as compared to whole blood with similar concentration of reagents, however whole blood was equally effective as PRP in detecting hyper-responsive platelets in--patients of IHD.

Pleomorphic adenoma of lacrimal gland: diagnosis based on fine needle aspiration cytology.

A 48 years old male patient presented with a mass in the supratemporal quadrant of orbit. Fine needle aspiration (FNAC) revealed a cellular tumour with a chondrimyxoid background and epithelial cells intermingled with mesenchymal cells in a fibrillary matrix. A diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma of the lacrimal gland was made which was confirmed on histopathology. FNA is a rapid and accurate method in diagnosis of lacrimal gland tumours.